Effects of a Physical Exercise Program (PEP-Aut) on Autistic Children’s Stereotyped Behavior, Metabolic and Physical Activity Profiles, Physical Fitness, and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Study Protocol

Abstract

Physical exercise has shown positive effects on symptomatology and on the reduction of comorbidities in population with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is still no consensus about the most appropriate exercise intervention model for children with ASD. The physical exercise program for children with autism (PEP-Aut) protocol designed allow us to (i) examine the multivariate associations between ASD symptoms, metabolic profile, physical activity level, physical fitness, and health-related quality of life of children with ASD; (ii) assess the effects of a 40-week exercise program on all these aspects of children with ASD. The impact of the exercise program will be assessed based on the sequence of the two phases. Phase 1 is a 12-week cross-sectional study assessing the symptomatology, metabolic profile, physical fitness and physical activity levels, socioeconomic status profile, and health-related quality of life of participants. This phase is the baseline of the following phase. Phase 2 is a 48-week intervention study with a 40-week intervention with exercise that will take place in a specialized center for children with ASD in the city of Maceió-Alagoas, Brazil. The primary outcomes will be change in the symptomatic profile and the level of physical activity of children. Secondary outcomes will be anthropometric and metabolic profiles, aerobic function, grip strength, socioeconomic status, and health-related quality of life. The study will provide critical information on the efficacy of exercise for children with ASD and help guide design and delivery of future programs.

Effects of Physical Exercise on the Stereotyped Behavior of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…Such results put into question the assumption that stereotypic behaviors will sharply decrease and eventually return to baseline levels after physical-exercise-based interventions are completed [14,22,39]. The length of such time effects is not consensual in the literature varying around 40 min [23,61], 90 min [15], or 120 min [41]. One of the major contributions of the study by Bahrami et al [7] is to provide new evidence that some types of exercise such as Kata techniques, due to its specific characteristics, may have an effect for a longer duration on the reduction of stereotypic behavior in children with ASD.…”

Parent-reported social-communication changes in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK

“…Previous research indicates that low levels of physical activity and inactive behaviour can have particularly adverse effects on the quality of life, health, and well-being of children diagnosed with ASD (Ferreira et al, 2018, Jones et al 2017. Further, increasing levels of physical activity has been linked with improving social development and enhancing communication skills in autistic children (Best 2010, Lang et al 2010, Lee and Vargo 2017, Sam et al 2015.…”

Efficacy of 6-Month Adapted Aerobic Program on Motor Proficiency, BMI and Cognitive Abilities of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Three Case Reports

“…However, recent evidence suggests that children with ASD experience motor coordination delays and deficits that contribute to atypical development of fundamental motor skills (Xavier, Gauthier, Cohen, Zahoui, Chetouani, Villa, Berthoz, & Anzalone, 2018). Motor deficits in children with ASD are characterized by difficulties in fundamental movement patterns, balance, postural stability, coordination deficits and Developmental Coordination Disorder (Ferreira, Toscano, Rodrigues, Furtado, Barros, Wanderley, & Moreira Carvalho, 2018).…”